revised 3/19/07
Spring 2007 Semester Program Assessment Report
(Please provide electronic and hard copy to your college facilitator.)
Degree program*: MPA
Chair: James Brent
Report Prepared by: Constantine Danopoulos
Department: Political Science
Department Phone: 924-5555
Date: June 8,2008
*Where multiple program curricula are almost identical, and SLOs and assessment plans are identical,
it is acceptable to list more than one program in this report.
Please list all Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives (SLOs) for this program in Tables 1A & 1B.
Table 1A. Learning Outcomes (all outcomes if one program reported, or common outcomes if
multiple programs reported on this form.)
SLO #
Exact wording of Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
1
Current knowledge and theory of public administration.
2
Decision making skills appropriate to functioning in professional public
administration positions.
3
Appropriate level of written and oral communication skills, including the ability to
use appropriate technology.
4
Assessment of core curriculum for appropriate level, mode, content and outcome
every seven years.
Table 1B. Unique Learning Outcomes, if multiple programs reported on this form.
Program Name:
SLO #
Exact wording of Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
N/A
Program Name:
SLO#
Exact wording of Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
N/A
Please complete the schedule of learning outcome assessment below by listing all program SLOs by
number down the left column and indicating whether data were/will be collected (C), when they
were/will be discussed by your faculty (D) and when changes resulting from those discussions
were/will be implemented (I).
NOTE: * SJSU must provide data to WASC for all SLOs by the end of Sp07.
Table 2
C = data Collected
SLO #
1
2
3
4
Page 1
D = results Discussed
F05 or
earlier
C
Sp06
F 06
I = changes (if any) Implemented
Sp07
F07
Sp08
D/I
C
(deferred)
C
D
(deferred)
D/I
C
D
C/D
revised 3/19/07
1. Check the SLOs listed at the UGS Website (www.sjsu.edu/ugs/assessment/programs/objectives).
Do they match the SLOs listed in Tables 1A and 1B?
___YES
__XX______ NO
2. Fall 2006 Performance Data: Describe the direct assessment (performance) data that were
collected in fall 2006 (‘C’ in F06 column of Table 2), how much and by whom. Be specific, for
example: Instructors in two sections (60 students) of PSYC 150, Anagnos and Cooper, gave an embedded
exam question and in their summary report indicated the % of students who earned a ’B’ or better, ‘C’, or
less than ‘C’ using the same grading rubric for that question.
SLO # 3
Data collected, how much, by whom**
MPA students are required to make written and oral presentations in class to demonstrate
their capabilities. PADM 210 provides a unique opportunity to gauge the capabilities of
MPA students because every student must take the course, and it includes a significant
written project (15 pages minimum) with an oral presentation supported by a PowerPoint
presentation (20 minutes average).
Professor Edwards teaches all sections of PADM 210. In Fall 2006 data were collected on
24 students. She evaluated the written and oral presentations as follows:
1. Student’s written paper is free of mechanical English usage errors;
2. Student’s written work shows the capability to use available computer programs
to check their work for spelling and grammar errors, and to appropriately format
the paper as a staff report;
3. Student’s oral presentation follows the paper’s outline and stays within the
assigned time frame;
4. Student’s oral presentation demonstrates adequate preparation to follow eye
contact, clear statements, and the answer questions on the material;
5. Student’s PowerPoint presentation is easy to read, keeps the listener’s attention,
and follows the outline of the paper.
The following scale was used to evaluate papers.
A+/A= Student demonstrates competence well beyond normal expectations for MPA
students in Public Administration.
A-= Student fully meets and in some ways exceeds expectations for MPA students in
Public Administration.
B+=Student fully meets expectations for MPA students in Public Administration.
B=Student generally meets but in some respects falls short of expectations for MPA
students in Public Administration.
B- Student does not meet normal expectations for MPA students in Public
Administration.
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revised 3/19/07
etc.
3. Fall 2006 Indirect Measurement (if any): Describe the indirect assessment data that were
collected in fall 2006 (‘C’ in F06 column of Table 2), how much and by whom. Be specific, for
example: 50 employers were surveyed by Margaret Wilkes, Career Planning and Placement about
performance of recent hires who graduated from our program in 2004-5.
SLO # 3
1
2
etc.
Data collected, how much, by whom**
N/A
4. Fall 2006 Findings/Analysis: Describe the findings that emerged from analysis of data collected in
F06. Be specific. For Example: less than 50% of students met criteria for teamwork outcome. OR
Employers indicated students have sufficient teamwork skills, no change needed.
Finding 1 (SLO # (3))
We found that our MPA students demonstrated strong (B or higher) written, oral
and PowerPoint skills. Specifically, 24/24 students in Fall 2006 achieved a B or
better, with 11/24 scoring in the highest category. Improvement is needed in the
area of written mechanics and oral presentation skills.
Finding 2 (SLO # (s))
Finding 3 (SLO # (s))
etc.
5. Fall 2006 Actions: What actions are planned and/or implemented to address the findings from fall
2006 data? These are indicated by ‘I’ in Table 2 for the SLO data collected in fall ’06. Examples of
actions taken include curricular revision, pedagogical changes, student support services, resource
management. Be specific. For example: revising ENGR 103 to include more teamwork.)
Planned
To address the writing mechanics deficiency the instructor (Edwards) is
implementing the following actions: provides written corrections, advises students
to seek writing mechanics assistance through the Writing Center, and take ESL
and/or POLS 100W as early as possible.
To address the public speaking deficiency the instructor encouraged students to
take a course in Communication Studies.
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6. Fall 2006 Process Changes: Did your analysis of fall 2006 data result in revisiting/revising the
Student Learning Outcomes or assessment process? Yes __ No XX__.
If the answer is yes, please explain and submit an updated version of the Student Learning
Outcomes and/or assessment plan.
7. Spring 2007 Performance Data: Describe the direct assessment (performance) data that were
collected spring 2007 (‘C’ in Spr07 column of Table 2), how much and by whom. Be specific. For
example: Instructor for MATH 188 (30 students), Stone, gave 3 embedded exam questions and in his
summary report indicated the % of students who met or did not meet SLO #2.
SLO # 2
1
Data collected, how much, by whom**
MPA faculty (Sylvia and Edwards) developed a 2006-2007 version of an exit survey that
would have included data regarding decision –making (SLO #2). Due to concerns about
the assessment process and the role of IRB approval, the exit survey was not circulated as
planned. The faculty is seeking guidance on how to conduct a valid survey (with a high
enough N) that is both voluntary and based on informal consent. Because this debate was
unresolved at the semester’s mid-point the third assessment goal was substituted.
8. Spring 2007 Indirect Measurement (if any): Describe the indirect assessment data that were
collected (‘C’ in Spr07 column of Table 2), how much and by whom. Be specific, for example: 100
alumni were surveyed by the department with questions related to SLOs #1 & #2.
SLO #
1
Data collected, how much, by whom**
N/A
9. Fall 2007 Direct Measurement: For the SLOs scheduled to be assessed in fall 2007, describe the
direct (performance) data that will be collected, how much and by whom.
Be specific, for example: Instructors in two sections of ART144, will assess SLOs #3 & #4 using a common
rubric on the students’ final paper.
SLO # 2
1
Data to be collected, how much, by whom**
Exit survey of graduating 2007-2008 MPA students to measure decision-making skills
(SLO #2).
10. Fall 2007 Indirect Measurement (if any): Describe the indirect assessment data that will be
collected (‘C’ in F07 column of Table 2), how much and by whom. Be specific, for example:
graduating seniors in all capstone course sections will be surveyed on curriculum strengths & weaknesses.
SLO #
1
Page 4
Data to be collected, how much, by whom**
N/A